The Imperial Military, also known as the Imperial armed forces or Imperial Service, was the armed forces of the Galactic Empire, and successor to the Republic Military. It was responsible for carrying out military operations throughout the galaxy as well as maintaining order on Imperial member worlds, governorships, colonies, and protectorates.

The Imperial Military was a massive organization, as Palpatine did nothing to halt the massive military build up that had produced an army of troopers and enormous weapons of mass destruction following the Clone Wars.[1] Its ranks were filled with tens of trillions of regular army soldiers, trillions of fleet crew, and a sizable force of stormtroopers.[2]

The Imperial Military was under the direct control of Imperial High Command. Although the Galactic Emperor acted as the Commander-in-Chief of the Military, Palpatine rarely ever left the confines of his palace on Coruscant, leaving a relative few military personnel ever actually seeing him face to face. As such, even though the various commanders merely carry out orders issued by the Emperor, they are considered to be the true positions of power in the New Order.[1] The next highest rank was that of the Supreme Commander. The individual who held this title had complete control over the Imperial Military, and answered only to the Emperor. In the absence of an official Emperor, the Supreme Commander often became the de-facto leader of the Empire, as was seen in the cases of Grand AdmiralThrawn and Gilad Pellaeon. This position was held by several different Imperial officials over the course of the Empire's history, including Darth Vader, Thrawn, and Gilad Pellaeon.

The Imperial Military was not only a physical superpower, but a mental one as well. Vader's stormtrooper division, the 501st Legion, known as "Vader's Fist," inspired fear in any sentient species. The infamous Death Stars were used by Emperor Palpatine to frighten the galaxy's citizens into submission. These are only a few examples of the fact that pure fear of the Empire's might was often more effective than might itself. Much of the equipment used by the Empire was designed to enhance this effect, the fear-inspiring appearance of the AT-AT being one example of this phenomena.

Following the Clone Wars and the transformation from Republic to Empire, the clones were given new armor and weapons, and went from fighting droids to suppressing planetary uprisings on planets such as Naboo. Palpatine used the lack of a surrender from the Separatist leaders to continue to build up his army and navy, although he was aware that they were all dead. During the early stages of the Empire's formation, the Imperial Military initially found innumerable recruits among various cadets of the Academy, which had been an elite educational and training institution with campuses throughout the known galaxy.[1] Shortly into the Empire's infancy, however, a military coup was instigated by the first graduating class of the various Military branches, helmed by the then-Imperial Academy headmaster Gentis, in order to end the Emperor's warmongering ways after stumbling upon the Imperial Crematorium, which also led to Palpatine being temporarily poisoned with Aorth-6.[3] After the Kamino Uprising, Palpatine decided that having an entire army based on a single template was too dangerous, and began to diversify, although the [[501st Legion/Legends|501st Legion] remained composed of Fett clones. According to the New Order's ideology of human supremacy, the stormtroopers remained on the whole, human. Early conflicts for the Imperial Military included the Reconquest of the Rim, which brought much of the Outer Rim Territories under Imperial control, and the Kwymar Suppressions.[4]

The Galactic Civil War

After facing a droid uprising on Mustafar led by Gizor Dellso, the biggest threat to the Imperial Military was the Alliance to Restore the Republic. The two sides fought for years, in a conflict spanning the entire galaxy. The three biggest battles were at Yavin, Hoth, and Endor. At the time of the Battle of Yavin, the Imperial Military, according to Emperor Palpatine, was the largest fighting force in galactic history.[5] Even though the Empire was victorious at Hoth, dealing a grievous blow to the Rebels, the Battles of Yavin and Endor resulted in major Alliance victories. In fact, Endor would see the end of the Empire's founder and his right hand man, Darth Vader, sending the Imperial Military into chaos.

Defeat and restoration

Following defeat at the hands of the New Republic, the Imperial Military split to follow multiple leaders, depending on their location and direct command. Several factions were led by officers and warlords such as WarlordZsinj, Ysanne Isard, and Grand AdmiralThrawn. Though they all came close to defeating the New Republic, especially Thrawn, all ultimately failed. When Palpatine returned, much of the military sided with him. After his final defeat in Operation Shadow Hand, they retreated to the portion of space known as Imperial Space. They would later reunite with the New Republic to fight the Yuuzhan Vong. After about 40 ABY, the Imperial Remnant began to regain power; after the Battle of Caamas in 130 ABY, it was once more the dominant faction in the galaxy. However, the Imperial Military was divided again when Emperor Fel was forced out of power. Parts of the military remained loyal to him, and after its formation served the Galactic Federation Triumvirate.

Although technically not actual branches with the Imperial Military, the Department of Public Works and Department of System Exploration had several of its funds diverted at the behest of Emperor Palpatine to fund the development of the two Death Stars as well as the Eye of Palpatine,[19] and top-secret research into starfighter development, several of which were done illegally. The Imperial Advisor Coh Veshiv uncovered the latter instance, although this ended up inadvertently outraging his liege due to a breach in security.[20]

Although they are not actually part of the standard Imperial Military hierarchy, the Imperial Intelligence and Imperial Security Bureau branches (acting as the intelligence gathering branch and secret police branch, respectively) nonetheless are important enough assets to various Imperial Military operations to allow them to work together with the Imperial Military, as their collected findings and work are vital for their various military operations, as well as to ensure the various branches are ideologically consistent.[5] Similarly, while the Imperial Senate Guards and Imperial Senate Sentinels technically weren't part of the standard Imperial Military hierarchy due to being assigned for guard duty for matters related to the Imperial Senate, they nonetheless have sometimes been attached to and at times even commanded various Imperial Military units should the operation be important enough to require their presence.[21] The Commission for the Preservation of the New Order (COMPNOR), similar to the ISB, was not actually part of the standard Imperial Military hierarchy, but it often was attached to it for largely the same reasons as the ISB (which had itself been a creation of COMPNOR), with the inclusion of CompForce, the military wing of COMPNOR, as an actual regiment in the Imperial Military.[5] Likewise, while not actually part of the Imperial Military, the Imperial Office of Criminal Investigations, and by extension its units the Sector Rangers and Special Enforcement Officers, sometimes worked with the Imperial Military if any criminal investigations happened to involve both parties, as the former had jurisdiction throughout most of the known galaxy.

The Imperial Military was governed by various regulations. Imperial Military personnel followed and were disciplined under the Imperial Military Code. One regulation required all Imperial vessels to release garbage into the vacuum of space before making a hyperspace jump.[22] Another was that, the moment when an executive vessel (such as a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle) had lowered its ramp, all personnel within the docking area were to stand at attention.[19] One specific set of codes was Section 12-C, which defined capital offenses, which included but was not limited to incitement to mutiny, participation in mutiny, concealing mutineers or evidence of mutiny or planned mutiny and concealing saboteurs or evidence of sabotage or planned sabotage.[23]

Although technically not part of the Imperial Military, Privateers have an unofficial relationship with the Imperial Military, often raiding enemy shipping under Emperor Palpatine's explicit permission via a letter of marque, with the Imperial Military tolerating their presence in the Outer Rim and letting them have free reign as long as it didn't interfere with their own affairs.[5]

In addition, ambition for the highest posts was encouraged amongst officers to keep competition fierce (with the penalty for failure being death), which likewise meant that a significant number of the Empire's commanders within the New Order being those of formidable military talents, owing to the New Order's valuing ruthless efficiency. However, in some cases, due to bureaucracy and political whims, incapable men were promoted to high posts.[1]

Personnel

Specializations

Under the Imperial Military's Non-huMan rule, members of the Imperial Military were almost invariably maleHumans. Official Imperial policy regarded most alien species as being unfit for command or even self-determination.[4][5] Those few alien or female military personnel, such as Bertroff Hissa, Mitth'raw'nuruodo, or Natasi Daala rose to high rank through concealing their backgrounds, obtaining powerful patrons, or through raw skill alone.[4][5]

Imperial officers held command appointments over ships, troops and military units. Such men tended to be Core Worlders, and lack of powerful connections within the military hierarchy could be a bar to high rank. Officers tended to be highly Humanocentric and fully supportive of the New Order's anti-alien policies.[4][5][1]

The most senior officers in the Imperial Military were the twelve Grand Admirals, a cadre of naval strategists, researchers, and New Order partisans appointed by Emperor Palpatine in 2 BBY. Called the "Circle of Twelve" by Palpatine, they were assembled to be a leadership cadre for the entire Imperial Military.[4][5]

Ranks

Officer ranks within the Imperial Military was denoted by a specific combination of colored squares and code cylinders worn on the uniform.[4][5] The Military divided rank into Position, Line rank, and Specialist rank. Position referred to an officer's current assignment on a ship or unit as opposed to permanent rank, and included the honorary titles of High Admiral and Warlord of the Empire, usually granted to Grand Moffs, Grand Admirals and Grand Generals.[4] Other titles included Baron of the Empire and Tan. Ironically, the title of Warlord of the Empire would later become infamous for the splintering of the Empire post-Endor, where various rogue Imperial officers created fiefdoms that feuded with each other, to the extent that they were referred to as Warlords.[25]

Line ranks were permanent ranks held by those who commanded ships, military units, or fleets. There were very few officers with permanent line ranks above that of Navy Senior Captain or Army Colonel.[4]

Specialist rank was held by those in the technical branches and broadly mirrored the line ranks of the Imperial Army. Specialists promoted above the rank of General would be promoted into the line ranks but would receive honorary titles related to their branch.[4]

Equipment

Uniforms

Officers in the Army and Navy wore an olive-gray uniform tunic and trousers with matching caps and black leather boots. Officers in the Stormtrooper Corps wore identical uniforms but all-black in color, and in battle wore the same white armor as their soldiers but with rank insignia. Similar black-colored NCO uniforms were also prevalent among veteran pilots and prison guards.

Around 0 BBY, various Imperial officers had their hair cut in a way that exposed the sideburns, although this practice was discontinued some time after the Battle of Yavin.[26]

Although technically not a standard uniform for the Imperial Military, various Imperials stationed at Restuss utilized the Crusader Mark III armor provided to them by Black Sun during the battle against Rebel forces for the Star Core. The Rebels, likewise, wore Crusader Mark II armor during that time, and also developed by Black Sun as a way of profiting from the war by selling Crusader armor to both sides without tipping either side off.[27]

Ground Vehicles

Walkers such as AT-STs and AT-ATs symbolized the might and resources of the Empire. They were giant weapons of war, feared by all. Many believed such weapons to be invincible. However, the AT- AT had two fatal flaws—its neck and its legs. (Rebel Snowspeeder pilots exploited these weaknesses on Hoth.) After the formation of the Empire at the end of the Clone Wars, many vehicles left over from that previous galactic conflict were used by the military, along with Separatist light vehicles, such as the Dwarf Spider Droid. Later on in the Empire's existence as the primary galactic power, older vehicles, such as the AT-AP, Juggernaut,(Juggernauts were used in action on Hoth) and cargo AT-TEs were used in the Outer Rim.

Ships

Although Venator-class Star Destroyers had served valiantly in the defense of the Republic during the Clone Wars, the rise of the Galactic Empire quickly turned the powerful vessels into symbols of fear and intimidation. The Venator and Victory-class Star Destroyers were stripped of their Republic markings and became the first of many warships that would comprise the Imperial Starfleet. Despite the total collapse of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Empire's military spending would only increase, leading to the development of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer. Eventually, the former Republic vessels would be phased out in favor of the new Imperial class, which would become the primary symbol of Imperial space power.

The Immobilizer 418 cruiser, also known as the Interdictor-class heavy cruiser, Interdictor-class Star Destroyer, or Interdictor-class medium frigate, was a 600-meter-long cruiser built on the standard Vindicator-class heavy cruiser hull. This vessel was equipped with 4 gravity well projectors, massive devices that projected pseudo-gravity that could prevent a vessel from escaping into hyperspace. The New Republic captured the remaining Immobilizer 418s, and upgraded their gravity- well projectors.

The Empire used many capital ships as frigates. Some of the most common were the Victory II-class Star Destroyer and the Carrack-class light cruiser. They varied in size and power, but each was still a force to be reckoned with. They were more specialized than Star Destroyers, and though Star Destroyers were the backbone of the Fleet, frigates were more commonly used, unless a major battle was at hand.
The culmination of the Star Destroyer design came in the form of the Executor-class Star Dreadnought, which was larger and more powerful still. Several Executor-class ships were known to have been constructed, including the original Executor, the Lusankya, the Iron Fist and one other Super Star Destroyer of unidentified class which served much later on fighting against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Starfighters

The Empire had millions of TIE Seriesstarfighters, coming in many varieties. All varieties of the TIE (except for the TIE Defender, TIE Hunter, TIE Avenger, TIE Phantom, and the TIE Advanced X1), however, lacked shields. This made the craft more vulnerable than the other ships used in the Imperial Military, forcing the pilots to fly with greater precision, demanding the highest skill from each one.

The TIE Fighter was the Empire's most common fighter. Though the fighter had no shields, it was very fast, and, most important to Palpatine, it was cheap. There were many variations on the original, such as the TIE Interceptor, the TIE Bomber, and the TIE Defender. With the exception of the Defender, all were relatively cheap and extremely efficient.

The Imperial R.O.E. (Rules Of Engagement) stated that Imperial TIE Fighters must have a 3 to 1 ratio advantage over enemy fighters in order to engage. Beating the enemy in numbers was a key part of Imperial strategy.

Behind the scenes

Death Star Designer provides a few information on the color symbolism in the imperial military. It says "no one is ever fired or telekinetically executed for choosing Imperial Grey. It's the traditional color for imperial ships and stations". It also talks about "Sith Black", which "adds a touch of ancient dread to any battle station". "Stormtrooper White" is said to be "the perfect choice for the battlestation designer that knows that what we don't see is more terrifying than what we do". Finally, "Republic Red" follows the teaching of "co-opting the legacy of republican traditions".